Reversing and change speed mechanism for metalworking machinery



Sept. 29, 1936- H. AfDlNGELDEIN REVERSING AND CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM FOR METALWORKING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Dec. 15

4/ '9 INVENTOR,

a/uvy a WM l A; ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1936. H. A. DINGELDEIN 2,055,523

REVER-SING AND CHANGE SPEED MECHANISM FOR METALWORKING MACHINERY Original Filed Dec. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' A -TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 7 REVERSING AND CHANGE SPEED MECHA- NISM FOR METALWORKING MACHINERY Harry A. Illingcldein, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Liberty Machine Tool Company, Hamilton,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 15, 1933, Serial No. 702,554 Renewed August 8, 1936 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in reversing and change speed mechanism for metal working machinery, and more particularly for planers.

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide for metal working machinery such as planers, a fast reversing and change-speed mechanism which will materially increase the productive efiiciency of the machine and. at the same time promote a substantial saving in respect to floor space and manufacturing costs. A nonreversible A. C. or D. C. motor, with single or variable speed characteristics, can be used in a smaller size for the same rate of horsepower to save power costs.

In my new drive a gear box including a clutch preferably of the multiple disc type, may be bolted to or mounted separately from the planer. No overhead belts or drives are needed, there is no loss through slippage when, for instance, belts are moved from a loose to a tight pulley, thus insuring safety to machine and operator. The elimination of shut down time for repairing broken belts, worn-out pulleys and bushings is also 5' achieved by my device.

It is another object of the invention to provide for metal working machinery such as planers. manual or automatic operating means that promote faster production, reduce the force required to shift belts and eliminates vibration.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevational view of a planer to, which my reversing and change-speed mechanism is applied. Figure 2 is a rear end view of the same. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the reversing and change-speed gear box. And Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through said gear box on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of the form of embodiment of my invention, illustrated therein, the numeral I designates a planer having a bed 2, platen 3, and cross slide 4, tool holder 5, and conventional devices for adjusting the position of the tool and cutter.

The platen 3 is provided with a rack 6 on its undersurface for engagement with a gear I mounted on a shaft 8. The latter, which is journaled in bearings. 9, 8 in the bed 2, meshes with a pinion 18 mounted on a shaft II which carries a gear l2. The latter is in engagement with a pin- 56 ion l3 mounted on a shaft [4 which carries a gear it. This gear is in mesh with a pinion l5 fixedly secured to a shaft l5 that is connected by a coupling 5 to a main shaft IS in a housing l1. (See Figures 1 and 2.)

The small end l8 of the main shaft l6 revolves in a plain bearing 99 in the hollow boss portion 20 of a removable cap plate 2| secured in a circular opening in the side 22 of the gear box. The large end of this main shaft is journaled in a similar bearing 23 in a hollow boss 24 on the other side 25 of the gear box, directly opposite the removable bearing plate 2 t. (See Figure 3.)

Between the bearing 28, and a sleeve bearing 26 on the large end of the main shaft I6, is a ball thrust bearing 2?. Free to rotate around the sleeve bearing 26 is the elongated hub 28 of a double gear whose inward axial movement is limited by a shoulder 29 on the sleeve bearing 26.

The double gear 28 comprises a large gear 38 and a small gear 3 l, the latter being formed in its face portion with an annular recess 32 to receive a plurality of clutch discs 33 and 34 that surround a slightly reduced portion of the main shaft l6 between a steel washer 35 and a sliding collar 36 thereon. The smaller clutch discs 33 are keyed to the main shaft, while the conventional radial projections on the larger discs fit in slots to receive them in the wall that defines the recess 32 in the small gear 3 I.

Surrounding the small end ill of the main shaft it within the removable side plate 2|, is a steel washer 3% that is in contact with a ball thrust bearing 3?. Between the latter and a steel washer 38 which abuts against a shoulder 39 on the main shaft 116, a sleeve bearing 48 formed with a flange M surrounds the shaft I6.

Free to rotate around the sleeve bearing 40 is a gear 42 formed in its face portion with an annular recess 63 to receive the steel washer 38 and a plurality of clutch discs 44 and 45 that surround the main shaft 18 between the sliding collar 3G and the steel washer 38. The smaller clutch discs Mare keyed to the shaft l6, while the conventional radial projections on the larger discs 45 fit in slots to receive them in the wall of the gear that defines the recess 63.

These clutch discs M and G5 may be engaged by the sliding collar 36 to cause the gear 42 to rotate the mainshaft I8, or the clutch discs 33 and (i l may be engaged by that collar to cause the double gear 28 to revolve that shaft.

Parallel with the main shaft i6 is a drive shaft 56 which rotates at one end in a bearing 41 mounted in a boss on the side 25 of the gear box, while its other end is journaled in a bearing 48 mounted in the hollow reinforced portion 49 of the end wall 22 of said gear box. The shaft 46 is journaled at its middle portion in a bearing 49 within a circular opening in a partition 50 in the gear box. Surrounding the shaft 46, and in engagement with the enlarged portion 49 of the end wall 22, is a ball thrust bearing 5I which is engaged by a gear 52 secured to the shaft 46 by a key 53.

The gear 52 is in mesh with an idler gear 54 mounted on a shaft 55 below, and approximately midway between, the shafts I6 and 46. The shaft 55 is journaled at one end in a boss 56 on the partition 50 in the gear box, and at its other end suitably journaled in the end wall 22 of said gear box. The idler gear 64 is also in mesh with the gear 42 on the small portion I6 of the main shaft I6, whereby the latter shaft may be rotated in a reverse direction by the drive shaft 46 when the clutch discs 44 and 45 are engaged by the sliding collar 36.

' Secured tothe other end of the drive shaft 46 by a key 56 for a sliding movement thereon, is a gear 5'! having an elongated hub portion 68. This gear 5'! is adapted to mesh with the large gear 30 on the main shaft I6, while a gear 59, of larger diameter than the gear El and mounted on its hub portion, is adapted to mesh with the small gear 3I on said main shaft I6. The gear 59 is secured within a shouldered recess in the hub 68 of the gear 51, by a key 60.

Surrounding an elongated hub GI of the gear 59 in a position to engage the inner face of that gear, is a thrust bearing 62. The inner end of the gear hub 6! is externally threaded to receive an end nut 63 between which and the thrust bearing 62 a slider ring 64 is mounted on said hub.

Projecting upwardly from the ring 64 is a reinforced extension 65 that terminates in a sleeve 65 which is slidable on a rod 66 mounted in the gear box parallel with the shaft 46. Projecting outwardly from the sleeve 65 is a boss 6'! having a reduced extension 68 that is engaged by the forked end 69 of an arm I0. The lower end of the arm I6 terminates in a hollow boss portion II which is tightly fitted on the end of a stub shaft I2, which is free to rotate in a hollow boss'I3 on the inner lower portion of a side wall 14 of the gear box. I

Fixedly secured to the outer end of the stub shaft 62, beyond the gear box side wall I4, is the lower end of a crank handle I5 carrying on its upper end a hand grip portion I6. By means of this crank 15 and the slider mechanism before described, the gears 51 and 59 may be slid along the shaft 46, to bring either the small gear 5'! in mesh with the large gear 36 on the main shaft I6, or the large gear 59 into engagement with the small gear 3| on said main shaft, thereby providing a change-speed direct drive from the shaft 46 to the shaft I6. While I provide for two speeds in this instance, a larger number is within the scope of the invention.

The crank I5 may be held in either one of its extreme gear-engaging positions by a ball IT in a boss 18 on its lower middle portion, that is spring-pressed into a corresponding recess 19 or in a plate 8| secured to the side wall 74 of the gear box.

Secured to the outer end 82 of the drive shaft 46 is a pulley 83 which receives a plurality of belts 84 that pass around a pulley 85 on the armature shaft of an electric motor 86 mounted on a base 9'! adjacent the gear box IT. This motor may be a single or variable speed one of the A. C. or D. C. type.

The clutch may be automatically operated to reverse the movement of the platen 3 by the following means. In the first place the sliding collar 36 has formed on the middle portion of its periphery, two spaced flanges 88, 88. Straddling the collar 36 are the ends 89, 89 of a yoke 90 which is secured by a pin 9I to a shaft 92 mounted in a hollow boss portion 93 on the partition 50 of the gear box and projecting through a hole in a cover plate 94 on the latter. (See Figures 3 and 4.) Projecting radially inwardly from each end 89 of the yoke 90 is a pin 95 carrying a roller 96 which engages the collar 36 between the flanges 88, 88 thereon, to shift the collar laterally a sufiicient distance to engage either clutch with its respective gear on the main shaft I6 when the shaft 92 is rotated by the following means.

Fixedly secured on the outer end of the shaft 92 is a bevel gear 91 that is in mesh with a bevel gear 98 fixedly secured to a horizontal shaft 99 that is journaled in suitable bearings in the planer. Secured to the cover 94 of the gear box I? is a casing Hill which houses the gears 91 and 98. (See Figures 1 and 2.)

Fix-edly secured to the outer portion of the shaft 99 is a crank arm IOI to whose outer end there is pivotally connected one end of a link I02, to whose outer end there is pivotally secured the upper end of a lever arm I03. At its lower end the lever arm I03 is attached to a shaft I04 journaled in a bracket I05 secured to the bed 2 of the planer.

Also secured to the shaft I04 is a short arm I66 that is in the path of longitudinal movement of two adjustable dogs I01 and I08, carried by the platen 3. These dogs are secured to said platen a sufficient distance apart so that when the platen approaches the end of its inward movement, the dog I01 will engage the arm I06, and the dog I09 will engage the arm I06 when the platen approaches the end of its outward movement.

When the dog I01, for example, engages the offset arm I06 on the shaft I04, it will cause the shaft 92 to be rotated by the mechanism heretofore described to cause the yoke 90 to shift the collar 36 toward the clutch discs 44 and 45, to effect an inter-engagement of these discs.

When this clutch is engaged, the shaft I6 will be turned in a reverse direction by the gear 42, idler gear 54, and gear 52 on the drive shaft 46. Since the platen is moved over the bed 2 by the shaft I6 through the gears hereinbefore described, its movement will be reversed when the direction of rotation of the shaft I6 is reversed through the engagement of the dog I0'I with the offset arm I06.

When the dog I08 engages the offset arm I06 near the end of the outward movement of the platen, the collar 36 will be shifted in the reverse direction by the yoke 9| to engage the clutch discs 33 and 34 for the purpose of causing a direct drive from the shaft 46 through the gears that are in mesh between said shaft and the main shaft I6. If the gear shift handle 75 is actuated to bring the gear 5'1 in mesh with the large gear 80 on the shaft I6, the latter will be driven at a lower rate of speed than when the gear 59 on the drive shaft 46 is brought into engagement with the small gear 3| on the main shaft I6.

Thus, it is seen that not only will the movement of the platen be automatically reversed at the end of its rearward and forward movements, but 75 that it may be driven at two different speeds by reason of the change speed gears on the drive shaft 46 and the main shaft I6.

It is also seen that when my reversing and change-speed mechanism is employed in connection with a metal working machine, such as a planer, the movement of the platen may be instantly reversed Without the necessity of moving belts from a loose to a tight pulley, thereby insuring safety to the machine and the operator, as well as eliminating the line shaft or motor mounting on the machine.

A saving in floor space, power and manufacturing costs is also promoted, as well as the elimination of vibration. Materially increased production in the amount of planing is further achieved when my reversing and change speed mechanism is employed. The elimination of shut down time for repairing broken belts, worn out pulleys, bushings, and other parts, is also accomplished.

My improved clutch drive may also be manually controlled through the provision of the following means, although other means may be employed for this purpose, if desired.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is secured to the shaft I04 a toothed quadrant I09. The latter is in mesh with a pinion IIO secured to a stub shaft III journaled in a bracket H2 attached to the bed 2 of the planer. Also fixedly secured to the shaft III is a handle II3 by which the quadrant I09 may be turned to rotate the shaft I04, for the purpose of shifting the clutch yoke 9| as effectively as it is automatically shifted by the engagement of the dog I01 or the dog I08 with the offset arm I 06 that is attached to said shaft. By these means, it is possible to manually control the shifting of the clutch if automatic operation is not desired.

I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, since any changes or modifications may be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A reversing and change speed mechanism comprising a gear box, a main shaft rotatable in said gear box, a double change-speed gear loosely mounted on said shaft, a multiple disc clutch for connecting the double gear with the main shaft, a second gear loosely mounted on said main shaft, a second multiple disc clutch for connecting the second gear with said shaft, a shifting collar on said shaft between the clutches, a drive shaft, a change-speed double gear on the drive shaft for engagement with the double gear on the main shaft, a second gear on the drive shaft, an idler reversing gear in engagement with the second gear on the main shaft and the second gear on the drive shaft, means for shifting the double gear on the drive shaft to bring one or the other of its gears into engagement with a respective gear portion of the double gear on the main shaft, and automatic means for shifting the clutch collar to engage a clutch on the main shaft with its respective gear.

HARRY A. DINGELDEIN. 

